Guest Author - Carolyn Chambers Clark, ARNP, EdD

What is estriol?

There are three types of estrogen: estradiol, estrone and estriol. The types of estrogen used in conventional hormone treatment (ERT) are estrone and estradiol. These are the estrogens implicated in breast cancer. Estriol is produced in large amounts during pregnancy.

How does estriol provide protection?

Studies performed by Dr. Henry Lemon showed that estriol protects against breast cancer. Women with breast cancer have been shown to have a low level of estriol. Dr. Lemon gave women 2.4 to 15 mg a day of estriol. Thirty-seven percent of the women who received estriol either showed no more breast cancer or the cancer went into remission. It also appears to have almost no side effects. A vaginal estriol cream has been shown to reduce vaginal and bladder changes and high doses may even prevent osteoporosis.

How do you find estriol?

Because estriol is derived from plant sources, it can't be patented, which may be why it isn't widely used in this country, but has been safely used in Europe for many years. In the U.S., you have to get a prescription and the dose should be individualized.

You can contact the Women's International Pharmacy at (800) 279-5708 or check pharmacies online.

This article is for information purposes only. For treatment, consult your health care practitioner.

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Sources and Resources:

Henry Lemon, "Reduce estriol excretion in patients with breast cancer prior to endocrine therapy," Journal of the American Medical Association, 1066.

Alvin Folingstad, "Estriol, the forgotten hormone," Journal of the American Medical Association, January 2, 1978.

A. Kirkengen and others, "Oestriol in the prophylactic treatmnet of recurrent urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women," Scandinavian Journal Primary Health Care, June l0, 1992.

Christiane Northrup, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, 1994.